30 Quattrinos - Francis Maria II della Rovere Annunciation

Historical Context: This 30 Quattrinos piece, struck for the Duchy of Urbino, belongs to the extensive coinage of Francesco Maria II della Rovere (1574-1624), the last independent Duke. His reign, spanning the late Renaissance and early Baroque, was marked by piety and cultural patronage, yet also the gradual decline of Urbino’s political autonomy, culminating in its devolution to the Papal States. The Annunciation theme reflects the era’s strong Counter-Reformation religious fervor, a characteristic trait of the Duke himself and his court.

Artistry: The coin’s obverse (or reverse, depending on design) features the Annunciation, a quintessential religious motif of the period. While specific engraver signatures for this particular issue are not commonly known, the stylistic execution aligns with the sophisticated late Renaissance Italian numismatic tradition. The composition typically portrays the Archangel Gabriel addressing the Virgin Mary, often with a lily and the Holy Spirit’s dove. This iconography was deeply ingrained in the visual language of central Italian mints, emphasizing devotional themes over purely secular ones.

Technical/Grading: For this 2.8 gg, 27 mmmm silver issue, key grading points focus on the clarity of the Annunciation scene. High-points include the distinct rendering of Gabriel’s and Mary’s faces, the intricate folds of their drapery, and the details of attributes like the lily and the dove. The legends surrounding the design, often "FRANC. M. II. VRBINI. DVX" and "ANNVNCIATIO," should be fully legible. Given the broad, thin flan, a strong, even strike across the entire design, particularly at the edges, is crucial for higher grades, as weak strikes are common.